Printing device for cash-registering machines



April 20 1926. 1,581,217

D. LO PRESTl SEMINERO PRINTING DEVICE FOR CA'SH REGISTERING MACHINES Filed May 9. 1924 2 vSheefLs-Sheet 2 0'. In' ven/far.-

Patented Apr. 20, 1926.1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

DECENZIO LO PRESTI SEMINERIO, OF TURIN, ITALY, ASSIGNOR TO SOCIETA ITALIANA REGISTRATORI SIR, OF TURIN, ITALY, A COMPANY OF ITALY.

PRINTING DEVICE FOR CASH-REGISTERING MACHINES.

Application led May 9,

/ all/whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DEGENZIO Lo PRESTI SnMTNnRro, subject of the King of Italy, residing at Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing Devices for Cash-Registering Machines, which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to cash registering machines, and more particularly to devices used in cash registering machines for supporting and carrying a paper tape and causing it to be printed upon by printing means comprised in the machine for the purpose of recording` the results of the operations effected in said machine.

rihe invention involves a unit removably arranged in the machine and comprising means for supporting and feeding a paper tape and for mounting the unit itself in the machine and connecting it with parts of the machine, which means enable said device to be shifted in the machine into posi tion to facilitate the insertion of the paper tape, and to be removed from said machine, the means for the actuation of the device by cash registering machine parts being arranged to permit such said shifting move- -ment without dismantling or removing parts.

Further, the invention embodies improved means for supporting the paper tape roll and for feeding and winding up the same.

On the annexed drawing is shown by way of example an embodiment of the present invention, and

Figure 1 is a front View of the same in position in the machine;

Figure 2 is a side view,

Figure 3 is a view from the back with parts in a different position with respect to Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a central section of the spools for the paper tape;

Figure 5 is a detail view of a positiondetermining sleeve.

rlhe device comprises a supportingy plate 1 provided with a hub 2 loose on a spindle 3 mounted in the machine frame. In sleeves 61 and 71 (Fig. 4) fixed to said plate 1 are journaled spindles 6 and 7 having grooved pulleys 4 and 5 secured tothem which are adapted to carry the winding and unwinding spools 8 and 9 for the paper tape.

1924. Serial N0. 712,023.

On the plate 1 is also mounted a roller 11 on which passes the paper tape, shown conventionally by a dotted line 100, which tape is held in position by a pressing roller 12. Said roller 11 produces the paper feed at each operation and for this purpose it has connected to it a ratchet pinion 14 engaged by a check 'pawl 15 and operated by a driving pawl 16 pivoted on an arm 17 which is rotatable around the aXle 11 of the roller l1.

A crank lever 18 acted on by a spring 29 is pivoted concentric with the rollerl 11, on the rear face of the plate 1. On the lower arm 18 of said crank lever 18 is pivoted at 19 an arm 19 carrying the inking roller 20 and held in the position illustrated by a spring 21 attached to arms 19 and 18 respectively, and a positioning pin 22.

On the common pivot or axle`11 of the roller 11 and of the crank lever 18 is also pivoted an arm 23 which is controlled by a hand lever 26, a crank lever 25 rigidly connected with lever 26 and arranged behind the plate 1, and a rod 24 connecting said lever 25 with a tail 23 of the arm 23. By means of the above described parts the said arm 23 may be oscillated around its pivot and carried at will into the position `of Figure 1 in which it projects to one side of the plate 1, or into the position of Figure 3 in which it lies behind said plate. A spring 27 attached to arm 25 of lever 25 and to a stationary pin 37 on plate 1 acts to keep the lever 26 and associate parts in the desired position, said lever 26 being stopped in position by pins 102 on a quadrant 103.

The arm 23 has a pin 28, and a spring 29 attached to a stationary stud 32 keeps a projection 30 of the crank lever 18 in contact with said pin when the arm 23 is in the position of Figure 1, while, when the arm 23 is in the position of Figure 3, the said spring 29 moves said lever 18 behind the arm 23, it being engaged in this posit-ion by a pin 28 projecting from the rear face of the plate 1.

The previously mentioned pressing ro-ller 12 is carried by an arm 31 pivoted on said stud 32 of the plate 1 and actuated by a spring 33, which is attached to plate land to a pin 34 on the said arm 31. The pin 34 may engage (see Figure 3) an abutment 35 on an arm 36 pivoted on pin 37 when it is desired to hold the roller 12 away from the roller 11 prior to positioning the paper tape in the machine; such engagement being effected by rocking said arm until its pin contacts with the abutment, the arm 36 being thereafter kept in engaged, position by a spring 36.

Finally, at the top portion of the plate 1 is arranged a stud 38 on which is engaged a fork 39 having at its opposite end a hook 40 and a manipulating knob 41; a spring 42 Connected with the stud 38 and the forkv 39 acts to move the hook towards the Astud 38. vOn the machine frame is arranged a spindle`43 on which is mounted a loose and slidable sleeve 58 having two adjacent grooves 58-58, into the first one of which projects the edge of the plate 1, as shown in Fig. 1, while in the second one is engaged the hook 40 (Fig. 3) the plate 1 is thus connected with the spindle 43 by the intermediary of spring 42 which holds it resiliently in the position of Figure 1, while the sleeve. 58 being free to slide on the spindle 43 permits the plate 1 tobe shi-fted in the direction of the axis of the spindle 43. By means of they knob 41 'the hook 40 may be depressed and thereby released from ythe sleeve 58 and spindlev 43, and said knob may thereupon be engaged in the recess 44, the plate 1 being then entirely free from the spindle 43whilc the hook 40 is held in position on the plate.

As shown in Figure 4, the winding up spool for the printed paper comprises a core 45 and a removable flange 46 having a hub 46 and-a sleeve 46 which are located on the spindle 6 and rigidly connected therewith by means of a set screw 47; on said flange is pivoted at 48 an arm 48 operated by a spring 49 (Fig. 1) and having a tongue 50 which extends over the core 45 and grasps the first tape convolution on the same.

.In the cash registering machine, the device is mounted to rotate around the fixed spindle 3 and is kept usually in the position of Figure 1 by the spring 42 connected with the stud 38, the hook 40 being engaged with the sliding sleeve 58.

They feed roller 11 is located Opposite a printing drum 13 having printing types on its periphery, and the arms 18 and 23 are designed to be engaged by cams 51 and 52 carried by a disk 52E-which is driven by a` shaft 54; the drum 13 and the shaft 54 are actuated by the mechanism of the cash registering machine at the required time and in a suitable manner, the arrangement and operation of the parts 13, 53 and 54 not being described in detail as having no bearing on the actual invention.

Finally, the machine frame has a pin 55 (Fig. 1)l positioned between projections or teeth 17 and 17 on the arm 17.

lt being assumed that a roll of paper tape has been wound up on spool 9 and then led through the device as shown by the dotted line 100 so as to pass across the guide roller 56, then around the roller 11 and then between said roller 11 and the presser roller 12,

thel plateV 1 lbeing left stationary. Because of this oscillation of the said arm 18, the inking roller 20 is carriedonto the printing drum 13 and thenassoon as 'the cam 51 has released the arm 18, theA parts are carried back' into usual position by the spring 29, The' impact of the roller 2O on the drum'13 1s cushioned'byA the arm 19 carryingsaid roller being rotatably mounted onf the arm 18 and held in position by the spring 21.

This `yielding mounting of :the inking roller 20. permits it to be brought, owing Vto the oscillation of arm 18, opposite the types which have'to leave their yimpressions on the paper during the operation in'question; said roller striking first of all against a line of types which are outside of the printing line and rolling` over the successive teeth yof the printing drum 13.

On the rotation of the disk 53 being continued, the cam 52, which is'on the opposite side of the disk 53v from the cam 51, is caused to lact on the-arm 23 so as to rock plate 1 bodily,'with 'the parts carried by it, around the :stationary spindle 3, against the action of the spring 42, said arm 23 being held in the illustrated position with respect to plate 1 by the rod 24 and levers 25-26. In said oscillation the roller 11 "with the paper tape thereon, is carried against the printing drum 13 and thus the ltypes of the drum 13, which were previously inked in the described'manner, are caused to yprint on the paper, said roller llfacting at the same time both asa feeding and as platen roller.

During the oscillationfof the plate 1, in the forward motion of the same, the tooth 17 engages vthe stationary pin 55 and therefore the arm 17 is caused to oscillate with respect to plate 1,its pawl 16 being' moved back one tooth space with respect `to the ratchet pinion 14 which is prevented from rotating by the pawl 15.

As soonas the cam 52 releases the arm 23, the spring 42 causes the plate 1 to move back into the position of Figure 1;l during this motion the tooth 17 "*of the arm 17 is 'engaged by the pin 55 and therefore said arml is again caused to oscillate with the pawl 16 whichdrives the pinion 14 and the drum 11 and moves forward the paper tape to feed a fresh portion of the same in front -lll of the printing drum for the next operation.

When it is desired to put the device out ofl operation, it is sufficient to move the hand lever 26 to rock the crank lever 25 which raises the arm 23 by means of the rod 24 and carries said arm into the posit-ion of Figure 3 in which it is out of cooperation with the cam 52; then the spring 29 moves back the arm 18 until the tooth 30 which is no longer engaged by the pin 28 on the. arm 23, comes in engagement with the pin 28 on the plate l and the operation of the inking roller is thus prevented. The spring 27 acting on the arm 25 of lever 25 may produce a stress in opposite directions with respect to the fulcrum of said lever and so as to keep the said lever and parts connected therewith in either position imparted to them by the manipulation of lever 26.

As above described, the roll of paper to be printed is located on the spool 9 and the paper passes across the guide roller 56 and around the feeding and platen roller 11 against which latter it is pressed by the pressing roller 12, and finally said tape winds up on the drawing spool 8; this spool 8 has its pulley 4 connected by a cord or other endless flexible element 10 with the driving pulley 5 on the unwinding spool 9, said cord passing around a grooved guide roller 104 loose on the spindle 105 connecting the lever 25 with the lever 26. The paper tape on being drawn by the roller 11 actuated by the ratchet 14 and pawl 16, causes the rotation of the spool 9 and pulley 5 and as this pulley has a larger diameter than the pulley 4 of the winding-up spool 8, it acts to drive the spool 8 through a larger angular extent than that the spool 9 has been moved, the core 45 of said spool 9 being rigidly connected with the spindle 7 by means of a projection 9 on the pulleyl` flange and a set screw 47.

By shifting the operating lever 26 to carry arms 18 and 23 into the position of Figure 3 in which they are out of the path of the cams 51 and 52 when the disk 53 is rotated, the Whole device may be freely moved along the spindles 3 and 43, on which latter slides the sleeve 58 engaged with the plate 1 in the hereinbefore described manner.

The device may thus be shifted from the usual position shown in Figure 2 in which it is resiliently held by a spring stud 60 engaging a groove 59 of the spindle 3, up to a position near the front end of the spindles 3 and 43 where it is held by said stud 6() which then enters a groove 59 (Fig. 2) in the said spindle 3; the device is thus held in a position in which it is easy to introduce the paper in position.

To remove the device from the cash registcring machine it is suflicient to release the hook from the groove 58" of the sleeve 58 and engage the knob 41 in the plate notch 44; the plate 1 may then be released from the sleeve 58 and the entire device may be withdrawn by grasping the milled portion 2 of the hub 2.

Of course the insertion of the device in the machine `is effected by similar manipulations made in reverse order.

For locating the paper tape in position the pressing roller 12 is held removed from the feeding roller 11 by engaging the pin 34 of its arm 31 with the projection 35 of the lever 36, while the spring 33 moves said roller back and keeps it in operative position as soon as the lever 36 is released. Wings 11 are provided on the roller 11 for the purpose of manipulating it as it may be required when setting the paper tape in position. In order to engage the paper tape on the core of the wind-up spool 8 it is sufficient to wind the end of the tape on the said core and then locate in position the flange 46 while acting on the arm 48 to keep its extension removed from the core; as soon as the arm 48 is released, its spring 49 forces said extension 50 against the paper convolution and holds it in position.

The device according to the present invention provides a single unit; having all the parts for its operation and mounting on the cash registering machine, including the return member and respective connections, which consists of the spring 42 and hook 40, permanently connected with the said supporting plate.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A paper tape feeding and printing device for cash registers, comprisinoan oscillatory supporting member; winding and unwinding spools carried thereby; a feed roller for the tape located between said spools; means `for rotating the winding spool; an arm pivoted on said supporting member; an inking member carried by said arm; means actuated by a part of the cash register drive for bringing said inking meinn ber into operation; means actuated by a 'part of the cash register drive for swinging the supporting member in one direction; means for printing on the tape during such swinging movement; means for effecting the return movement of said inking and supporting members; and means for automatically rotating the feed roller during said return movement.

2. A paper tape feeding and printing device for cash registers, comprising an oscillatory support; tap-e carrying and feeding means mounted thereon and includingk a combined feed and platen roller around which the tape passes; a settable printing element; 'a pawl and-ratchet devicey connected to drive said. roller; an arm pivoted on said, supporting member; an inking meinber-carriedby lsaid arm; means actuated by a part of the cash registerdrive for swinging saidfinking memberrelatively to said support and against said printing element; means actuated by a partof the cash register drive for swinging said" support-ibodilyin a direction to movesaid roller against said printing elementyand. means `for .automatically operating said pawlTand-ratehet device during the return movement of the support.

3. A paper ltape feeding and printing device for cash registers, comprising an oscillatorysnpport; tape carrying and feeding mea-ns .mounted thereon and including a combined feed and platen roller around which the tape passesga settable printing ele-ment; a ratchet secured to said platen roller; a pawl-carrying a-rm pivoted to said support for coaction with said ratchet;` a roller-carrying arm pivoted on said support; an inking roller. carried by the last-named arm, said last-named arm having a. portion thereof engageable by av part of the cash register drive to swing the inking roller against the `printing element; an actuating arm attached to said support and engagea-ble by apart ofthe cash yregister drive to swing the support in a direction to move the platen roller Yagainst said Aprinting element; and means-for automatically operating the pawlcarrying arm during the return movement of the support.

A paper tape feeding and printing device for cash registers, comprising an oscillatory support; tape carrying and feeding means mounted thereon and including ra combined feed and platen roller around which the tape passes; a-settable printing element; a ratchet ysecured* to said platen roller; a pawl-carrying arm pivoted to said supp-ort for coactionwitli said ratchet; a. roller-carrying arm pivoted on said support, an inling` roller `carried by1 the last-named arm, said last-namedv arm having a portion thereof engageable by a part of the cash register drive to swing the inking roller against the printing element; an actuatingiarn'i attached to said support and engageable by a part of the cash .register drive to swing the support in` a direction to move said platen roller against said printing element after the contact of the inking roller with the printing element has taken place; and means for automatically operating the pawl-carrying arm during the return movement of the support.

5. A papertape feeding and printing device for cash registering machines, comprising a singleunit removably supported in the machine and embodying inking means and tape ycarrying and feeding means including a platen roller around which the tape passes,

saidinlring meansy and platen roller adapted to be brought successively into contact With a settable printing element, and-means for rotating lsaid roller to effect the feed of the tape; said unit adapted to be sivungauto-` matieally inone direction by a part of the cash register drive to effect such printing contact, and said roller-rotating means being automatically operated during the return movement of the unit.

(i. In a cash registering machine, a tape feeding and printing device comprising a single unit mounted in the machine for lateral sliding movement in opposite directions; said nnit embodying.winding and unwinding spools for the tape, a feed roller therebetween, inking means and actuating means for Vthe feed roller; the lateral movements of said unit bringing the spools into position for insertion of the tape and the roller-actuating means out of position for coaction witha part of the cash register drive. and vice versa.

7.. ln a cash registering machine, a tape feeding andv printing device comprising a singlennit mounted in the machine for lateral sliding movement in opposite directions into two vdefinite positions, and means for locking said unit selectively in either position; said unit embodying winding and unnf'inding spools for the tape, a feed roller therebetween, inl-:ing means and actuating means for the feed roller; the movement of said unit into one of said positions bringing the spools into position for insertion of the tape and the roller-actuating means out of position for coaction with a part of the cash register drive, and its movement into the other position bringing said spools and inl;- ing means into operative position in the machine and the roller-actuating means into position for coaction with said register drive part.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the locking means comprises a fixed spindle whereon vthe sliding unit is mounted having a pair of spaced grooves, one for each position of said unit, and a detent engage-able alternatively in either groove.

9, A device according to claim 6, in which the shiftable unit embodies a supporting element whereon the tape spools and the Vfeed roller are mounted; said supporting element being removably mounted in the machine and having releasable means associated with it for holding it in place.

10. In a cash registering machine, a tape feeding and printing device comprising a single unit mounted in the machine and embodying winding and unwinding spools for the tape, a feed roller therebetween, inking means, an actuating Vdevice forsaidroller and inling means including pivoted arms for engagement by cooperating parts of the cash register drive, and means for swinging said arms into inoperative position with relation to said drive parts to prevent their actuation thereby.

11. A tape feeding and printing unit, according to claim 10, in which the means for springing one of said arms comprises 'a hand lever, a bell crank operated thereby, and a connecting rod between the bell crank and the said arm for rocking the latter about its pivotal axis.

l2. In a cash register; a tape feeding and printing unit comprising a supporting member; tape carrying and feeding means mounted thereon; a stud on said supporting member; a spring attached to sai-d stud; a reciprocato-ry fork engaged with said stud and connected with said spring, said fork having a hook for releasable engagement with a stationary part of the cash register; and cooperating means on said fork and supporting member for holding the former in position on the latter when said hook is released.

13. In a cash register, a tape feeding and printing unit comprising a supporting member; tape carrying and feeding means mounted thereon; a sleeve slidably mounted on a fixed spindle in the machine and formed with a pair of spaced grooves, in one of which an edge of said supporting member is removably engaged; a stud on said supporting member; a spring `attached to said stud; a reciprocatory fork engaged with said stud and connected with said spring, said fork having a hook releasably engaged in the other groove in said sleeve; and cooperating means on said fork and supporting member for holding the former in position on the latter when said hook is released.

14. In a cash register, a tape feeding and printing unit comprising a supporting member; tape carrying and feeding means mounted thereon; a stud on said supporting member; a spring attached to said stud; a reciprocatory fork engaged with said stud and connected with said spring, said fork having a hook for releasable engagement with a stationary part of the cash register;

and a projection on said fork for removable engagement in a notch in the supporting member to hold the fork in position thereon when said hook is released. i

15. In a paper tape feeding and printing mechanism for cash registers, a single unit removably supported in the machine and embodying an oscillatory support; tape carrying and feeding means mounted thereon and including a platen roller; a pivoted arm; inking means carried by said arm; a pawl-andratchet device to drive the tape feeding means; a settable printing element; means actuated by a part of the cash register drive for swinging said arm to carry said inking means against said printing element; means actuated by a part of the cash register drive for swinging the oscillatory support bodily in a directlon to move the platen roller against the printing element; and means for automatically operating said pawl-and-ratchet device during the return movement of the support.

16. In a paper tape feeding and printing mechanism for cash registers, an oscillatory unit removably supported in the machine and embodying tape-carrying and feeding means including a platen roller; a pivoted arm; inking means carried by said arm; a settable printing element; an arm connected with the first-named arm and adapted to be actuated by a part of the cash register drive to swing said inking means against said printing element; an arm adapted to be actuated by a part of the cash register drive for swinging the unit bodily in a direction to move theplaten roller against the printing element; means on the last-named arm against which said first-named arm is pressed; and means for defining the position of said last-named arm in the unit, said defining means enabling the said arm to be swung into inoperative position with relation to the associated drive part to prevent the actuation of the mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

DECENZIO L0 PRESTI SEMINERIO. 

